Stringed musical instrument bridge



April 1965 R. c. JERANSON 3,178,985

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BRIDGE Filed NOV. 15, 1962 INVENTOK RICHARD C. JsnA -so- A 7' TOFPNE ms United States Patent 3,178,985 STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BRIDGE Richard C. Jeranson, 2578 Sunbow Lane, New Brighton, Minn. Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,946 2 Claims. (Cl. 84-307) My invention relates generally to stringed musical instruments, and more particularly, to string-supporting bridges for such instruments.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a novel bridge which includes a plurality of separate string-rest blocks which may be readily readjusted to acquire accuracy in tuning of the strings respectively supported thereby when said strings become loose or stretched beyond tuning capacity.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for clamping the several blocks together in side-by-side relationship against the bridge whereby to positively eliminate undesirable vibrations therebetween and thus achieve maximum tone qualities.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which is not unduly expensive to produce, which is compact in size, and which requires a minimum of manual dexterity to install and adjust.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel bridge;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in top plan;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective; and

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section as seen from the line 55 of FIG. 3, portions thereof being broken away.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety an elongated base which is of conventional form, including a lower portion 2 and an upper portion 3. Lower base portion 2 is formed centrally to define an arch 4 and at its opposite ends to define supporting feet 5.

For providing vertical adjustments to the upper and lower base portions 3, 2, I provide a pair of longitudinally spaced jack elements 6, each including a vertically disposed screw-threaded shaft 6a, the lower ends of which are secured to lower base portion 2 and the upper ends of which are received in bores 6b, one each associated with end portions 7, 8 of the upper base member 3. To effect such vertical adjustments there are provided the hexagonal nuts 60, one each for one of the shafts 6a, and positioned intermediate the upper and lower base members 3, 2, respectively.

Opposite end portions 7, 8 of the upper base portion 3 are formed to define longitudinally spaced opposed shoulders 9, 10, respectively, the space therebetween being formed to define a step-supporting surface identified in its entirety by the numeral 11. As shown, the steps decrease in height progressively from a central one 12 thereof towards said shoulders 9, 10, as indicated by the numerals 13, 14, 15, and 16.

In view of the fact that the bridge shown is intended for use with a six-stringed instrument such as a guitar, I provide six separate string-rest blocks, identified collectively at 17, and from left to right with respect to FIG. 4,

ICC

identified by 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17s, and 17 As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 5, the central blocks 17c, 17d are supported on the central step 12, blocks 17b and 17e being supported by steps 13 and 14, respectively, and finally blocks 17a, 17 being supported respectively by steps 15 and 16. As shown, the dimensions of the blocks 17 longitudinally of the base 1, and their respective supporting steps 11 is such that when pressure is exerted against block 17a longitudinally of said base 1, that all of the blocks 17 are effectively clamped together against the shoulder 10.

To effect this pressure I utilize a clamping jack 18, which includes a screw-threaded shaft 19 slidably received in a longitudinally extended bore 20, in the end portion 7, a hexagon clamping nut 21 in engagement with shoulder 9, and a clamping plate 22 carried by the inner end of the screw-threaded shaft 19 and engageable with the adjacent side of the block 17a.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, same may well be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stringed musical instrument bridge comprising:

(a) an elongated base, upstanding opposite end portions of which define opposed longitudinally spaced shoulders,

(b) the space between said shoulders being formed to define a stepped supporting surface, the steps of which decrease in height progressively from a central one thereof towards said shoulders,

(c) a plurality of string-rest blocks on said supporting surface at least one each thereof in engagement with and supported by one of said steps,

(d) said blocks being independently slidably movable on their respective steps transversely of said base,

(e) the dimensions of said blocks and their respective supporting steps longitudinally of said base being such that each block engages an adjacent block whereby pressure exerted against an outermost one of said blocks longitudinally of said base effectively clamps all of said block together against one of said shoulders, and

(f) clamping means carried by the other of said shoulders for exerting pressure on said outermost block.

2. A stringed musical instrument bridge comprising:

(a) an elongated base, upstanding opposite end portions of which define opposed longitudinally spaced shoulders,

(b) the space between said shoulders being formed to define a stepped supporting surface, the steps of which decrease in height progressively from a central one thereof towards said shoulders,

(c) a plurality of string-rest blocks on said supporting surface at least one each thereof in engagement with and supported by one of said steps,

(d) said blocks being independently slidably movable on their respective steps transversely of said base,

(2) the dimensions of said blocks and their respective supporting steps longitudinally of said base being such that each block engages an adjacent block whereby pressure exerted against an outermost one of said blocks longitudinally of said base efiectively clamps all of said blocks together against one of said shoulders, and

(f) a clamping jack interposed between the other of said shoulders and said outermost block.

(3) said jack including a longitudinally extending screw slidably received in the other of said end portions, a nut on said screw in engagement with the adjacent shoulder, and a clamping plate secured to and carried by the inner end of said screw element.

References Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Widowson Dec. 20, 1949 McCarty Apr. 3, 1956 Hoyer Sept. 22, 1959 Bossier Dec. 1, 1959 Webster Dec. 29, 1959 

1. A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BRIDGE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BASE, UPSTANDING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF WHICH DEFINE OPPOSED LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SHOULDERS, (B) THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID SHOULDERS BEING FORMED TO DEFINE A STEPPED SUPPORTING SURFACE, THE STEPS OF WHICH DECREASE IN HEIGHT PROGRESSIVELY FROM A CENTRAL ONE THEREOF TOWARDS SAID SHOULDERS, (C) A PLURALITY OF STRING-REST BLOCKS ON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE AT LEAST ONE EACH THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH AND SUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID STEPS, (D) SAID BLOCKS BEING INDEPENDENTLY SLIDABLY MOVABLE ON THEIR RESPECTIVE STEPS TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BASE, (E) THE DIMENSIONS OF SAID BLOCKS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPORTING STEPS LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BASE BEING SUCH THAT EACH BLOCK ENGAGES AN ADJACENT BLOCK WHEREBY PRESSURE EXERTED AGAINST AN OUTERMOST ONE OF SAID BLOCKS LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BASE EFFECTIVELY CLAMPS ALL OF SAID BLOCK TOGETHER AGAINST ONE OF SAID SHOULDERS, AND (F) CLAMPING MEANS CARRIED BY THE OTHER OF SAID SHOULDERS FOR EXERTING PRESSURE ON SAID OUTERMOST BLOCK. 